Confused sex offender represents himself during hearing

As he sat handcuffed, donning navy jail scrubs in an empty jury box at the Orange County Courthouse on Friday afternoon, it was obvious Adam Tuttle was confused.

Tuttle didn't recognize the detective who talked to him for more than an hour about the two boys he had allegedly sexually abused. But minutes later, Tuttle claimed that the very same investigator came into his home with gun drawn, and then improperly interrogated him.

And during that interrogation, Tuttle claims, he thought it was possible the detective could have made him pass out with a simple squeeze of the shoulder. There was no passing out, and the touch, the detective said, was made only in a consoling manner.

Despite repeated warnings against it, Tuttle — a 33-year-old former dishwasher and line cook who is already a designated sex offender — is representing himself in a child sex case that could land him in prison for the rest of his life.

He tried to argue Friday that his interrogation, which occurred nearly two years ago, should not be admitted during his upcoming trial, because he was not properly advised of his rights and was in fear.

It was a perplexing argument for a man who admitted he was read his Miranda rights and understood them.

But Tuttle claims he was brought in for questioning for another matter, and so the Miranda rights were no longer effective by the time he admitted to sexually abusing boys.

Tuttle, who went through three attorneys before choosing to represent himself, complained Friday about not having access to evidence in the case because he is in jail, and not knowing how to subpoena witnesses.

Still, Tuttle insisted he is ready and wants to go to trial in two weeks. A judge ruled Tuttle was properly read his rights and will review the interrogation video to see if the questioning was improper.